The medication topic
often comes up in my office for obvious reasons. My general stance is if
medication is not necessary, then why use it. However, and I do mean however, if
I assess someone to possibly need to be evaluated for medications, then indeed I
believe it is necessary and this is based on how well and how urgent the client
is currently coping. If there are issues that need immediate addressing
medically, such as bi-polar disorder, or even the over-medicated ADHD, then so be it. On
the other hand, I do not advocate medication when there are other, non-medical,
options available. The key here is to ask, "what else is available?"

Let me address the ADHD
thing some more. I have observed, and been told, that schools often jump on the
ADHD-Medication Bandwagon when a child is not able to function
appropriately in class. This could be ADHD. It could be a personality clash. It
could be trouble at home, anxiety, and/or some other issue not at the tip of my
tongue or typing fingers. Whatever it is, first priority is that the child
suffer as little negative feedback as possible. In other words, if we can't get
the issues addressed pretty fast without medication, then medication could be
necessary and it is also depending on the evaluation by an appropriate medical doctor.
But, let me be clear, medication is not my first focus.

The other medication
issue is with adults. If bipolar is an issue, in my experience, it is rare that
a person with bipolar could ever possibly do everything they would need to do to
manage it without medication. In fact, off hand, I can't remember anyone doing
it. However, what may look like bipolar, may not be bipolar. Just as ADHD is, so
is bipolar. I explore options and then decide what is the best path to mental health, be it
medication or not. One has to weigh the priorities and options and then decide how long they want
to struggle without medications, if indeed they are assessed as needed, or just
helpful. In any case, the ultimate decision is that of the individual's. I suggest
that you be completely informed before that decision is made.

My hope is that if one
chooses to see me as a therapist, he/she will indeed do so with an open mind and
not be dead set against something that is actually a blessing that we do indeed
have those options. I have found that it is usually those that are dead set
against medications that are the ones who need it the most. Perhaps it is their
fears that make this true, for what we fear the most, we do indeed bring towards
us. And indeed fear can keep us from living to our best potentials.

However, since I do not
prescribe medications, I certainly do attempt to provide other ways to heal such
as those I have been trained for. My tools are the infamous talk method, the use
of art, EFT, and encouraging
other forms of therapeutic activities. Whatever ones are used, medication is only
one option, never the only option, and should never be used as the total treatment.